Now in ‘The Following,’ Zea Filmed One Last ‘Justified’ Episode

Actress Natalie Zea has moved on to “The Following,” but she still had time recently to film one final episode for the current season of “Justified,” she disclosed Friday.

We asked her about that when we encountered her Friday night in New York at a screening and party that Fox threw for “The Following” — the serial killer drama in which Zea stars with Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy. “The Following” premieres Monday (Jan. 21) at 9/8c on Fox.

But working on “The Following” has taken Zea away from “Justified,” where she was regularly seen last season in the role of Winona Hawkins, love interest for U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens (series star Timothy Olyphant).

In fact, as the new season of “Justified” began earlier this month, Winona is pregnant with Marshall Givens’ baby — though the two are estranged and she’s living elsewhere. In the show, that’s why Winona has not been seen in the first two episodes of “Justified” that have already aired (Tuesday nights at 10/9c) — leading “Justified” fans to wonder if she’ll ever be seen again. One reason to wonder: In real life, Zea’s off filming “The Following.”

Meet “Claire Matthews,” Zea’s character in “The Following”:

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But she told us she will be back on “Justified” later this season for one episode, which she completed filming not that long ago. She gave no hints of what’s in store for Winona and Raylan, and their child. But we have a feeling that she won’t be in Raylan’s life all that much — which means her final appearance will likely be a hello, and then a good-bye.